Automatic brake control



June 1942- w. J. SMITH 9 AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL Filed May 28, 1940 I i n Mun/0N l l 4.9

A tiomey Patented June 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC BRAKE CONTROL William J. Smith, Delaware City, Del.

Application'May 28, 1940, Serial No. 337,703

' 16 Claims. (01492-3) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in brake controls and more particularly to an improvement on my co-pencling pedal is pushed downwardly resulting in the application Serial No. 332,055, filed April 27, 1940 for a Combination vehicle control.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide automatic means for releasing the foot brake of an automatic foot brake applicator mechanism, such as is set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 332,055, filed April 27, 1940, when the ignition system is opened, and es pecially in instances where the foot brake mechanism is of the fluid type. 4

Another important object of the invention is to provide a foot brake control for motor vehicles which in operation is entirely automatic.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawing: I

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional View showingthe automatic brake release.

FigureZ is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the force applying means.

Figure 5 is a sectional iew taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 1. i

v Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view on the line 3-43 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view through the switch means.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that certain parts of the mechanism illustrated in the drawing represent a substantial part of the invention set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 332,055, filed April 27, 1940, and'these parts will be briefly described as consisting of the foot pedal'i having the foot plate 6 at its upper end, its lower end being connected to a horizontal shaft 1 on which is a cam 8 operative against a lever 9 adjacent its upper pivotal end ID, at which point a force-applying unit H is operative. This mechanism recited in my copending application Serial No. 332,055 further consists of a rod l2 pivotally connected at its upper end as at 13 to the foot pedal 5 and which at its lower end extends through a tapered opening l4 in the upper leg of a bellcrank l5 which is operatively connected with a throttle valve (not shown). A cross pin l6 onthe rod 12 is adapted to abut and operate the bellcrank [5 when the release of the brake (not shown), while the accelerator (not shown) is operated.

In carrying out the-present invention, a solenoid I1 is clamped, as by a band 18 to the intermediate portion of thelever 9 and this solenoid has a slidable core or plunger l8 which is normally held in retracted position, that is, inclevated position, by a compression spring 19.

The lower end of the lever 9 is constructed with an opening 20, tapered to accommodate the swinging movement of the lever 9.

Slidably disposed through this opening 20 is the fluid brake control rod 2|, which is accommodated with a dashpot or action snubber generally referred to by. numeral 22 and this consists of a stationary mounted barrel 23 having air openings 24 in the rear end thereof. The'rod 2| is provided with a piston defining co1lar25 riding in the cylinder 23.

The lower portion of the lever 9 is provided with a slot 26 extending upwardly from the opening 20 and in this is fulcrumed, as at 21, a rocker 28. The upperwall of the slot 26 is formed with a pocket 29 for receiving a portionof a compression spring 30 which bears against the forward end of the rocker 28 and maintains the same in the path of a roller 3| mounted on a pin 32, partly seated in a pocket 33 at the forward end of the control rod 2|.

It can be seen that the rear end of the rocker 28 and 39, respectively on aplate 40 of insulation which is secured by suitable means to the front side of the lever 9.

As can be seen in Figure 1, numeral 4| repre sents a battery such asis ordinarily found on an automobile and from this extends a lead 42 to the contactor 43 of the usual ignition switch generally referred to by numeral 44. This switch has the ignition off contact 45 and ignition on contact 46. A jumper 41 extends from the contact 45 to one side of the solenoid l1, while from the other side of the solenoida jumper 48 extends to the contact 38. From the contact 36, a jumper 49 extends to the return conductor 50 of the battery.

From the on contactor 46 of the ignition switch 44, a conductor 5| extends to the contact 39, while from the contact 31, a conductor 52 extends to the ignition. The return from the ignition coil is denoted by numeral 53.

It can now be seen that ordinarily when the ignition is on and the foot pedal 5 is released, the lever 9 will be swung forwardly by the forceapplying means II and the brakes will be applied. However, when it is desired to park or place the car at rest, for an indefinite period, the ignition switch 44 is opened and in doing this the contactor 43 is moved to the contact 45, thus breaking the ignition circuit, but supplying current by way of the jumper 4'! to the solenoid H, which is energized, driving the plunger [8 downwardly, striking the rocker 28, and rocking the same so that it is removed from abutting position with the roller 3!. As this takes place, the arm 34 is rocked to remove the contacts 36 and 31 from the contacts 38 and 39, respectively, thus deenergizing the solenoid l7. When the rocker 28 is released from the roller El, the brake control rod 2| is free to move to brake unapplied position.

The purpose of contact points 333'l is to make sure the rocker 28 is in effective position before the car can be operated since the contacts have to be closed before the ignition circuit is complete.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials ma be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1 as new is:

1. In combination with a brake control member, a manually operative member, a lever, said lever being adapted to be moved in one direction by the manually operative member, a force- 'applying unit adapted to move the lever to brake applied position, and releasing means between the lever and the brake control member.

2. In combination with a brake control member, a manually operative member, a lever, said lever being adapted to be moved in one direction by the manually operative member, a forceapplying unit adapted to move the lever to brake .applied position, and releasing means between the lever and the brake control member, and a solenoidfor operating the said releasing means.

3. In combination with a brake control member, a manually operative member, a lever, said i lever being adapted to be moved in one direction by the manually operative member, a force-applying unit adapted to move the lever to brake applied position, and releasing means between the lever and. the brake control member,

a source of current, an ignition switch, a solenoid .the lever and the brake control member, and a snubber for the brake control member.

5. In combination, an accelerator control, a

brake control, force-applying means for operating the brake control to brake applied position,

a manual member for effecting operation of said accelerator control and relieving the brake control of said force applying means, a motor ignition system including an ignition switch, an auxiliar circuit closed by the ignition switch when the latter is in ignition circuit open position, and relieving means for relieving the brake control from the force-applying means electrically connected in said auxiliary circuit.

6. In combination, an accelerator control, a brake control, force-applying means for operat ing the brake control to brake applied position, a manual member for efiecting operation of said accelerator control and relieving the brake control of said force applying means, a motor ignition system including an ignition switch, an auxiliary circuit closed by the ignition switch when the latter is in ignition circuit open position, and releasing means for releasing the brake control from the force-applying means electrically connected in said auxiliary circuit, a swingable lever against which the force-applying means is operative, said releasing means being operative between the said lever and brake control.

7 In combination, an accelerator control, a brake control, force-applying means for operating the brake control to brake applied position, a manual member for effecting operation of said accelerator control and relieving the brake control of said force applying means, a motor ignition systern including an ignition switch, an auxiliar circuit closed by the ignition switch when the latter is in ignition circuit open position, and releasing means for releasing the brake control from the force-applying means electrically connected in said auxiliary circuit, a swingable lever against which the force-applying means is operative, said releasing means being operative between the said lever and brake control, said releasing means including a swingable catch member carried by the lever and having a portion operative in the path of the brake control, and a solenoid having a projectible plunger, said solenoid being mounted on the lever with the plunger operative against the catch.

8. In combination, an accelerator control, a brake control, force-applying means for operating the brake control to brake applied position, a manual member for efiecting operation of said accelerator control and relieving the brake control of said force applying means, a motor ignition system including an ignition switch, an auxiliary circuit closed by the ignition switch when the latter is in ignition circuit open position, and releasing means for releasing the brake control from the force-applying means electrically connected in said auxiliary circuit, a swingable lever against which the force-applying means is operative, said releasing means being operative between the said lever and brake control, said releasing means including a swin'gable catch member carried by the lever and having a portion operative in the path of the brake control, and a solenoid having a projectible plunger, said solenoid being mounted on the lever with the plunger operative against the catch, and a switch on the lever interposed in the auxiliary circuit and being adapted to break the auxiliary circuit when the plunger is projected to operate the catch member.

9. In combination, an accelator control, a brake control, force-applying means for operating the brake control to brake applied position, a manual member for effecting operation of said accelerator control and relieving the brake control of said force applying means, a motor ignition system including an ignition switch, an auxiliary circuit closed by the ignition switch when the latter is in ignition circuit open position, and releasing means for releasing the brake control from the force-applying means electrically connected in said auxiliary circuit, a swingable lever against which the force-applying means is operative, said releasing means being operative between the said lever and brake control, said releasing means including a swingable catch member carried by the lever and having a portion operative in the path of the brake control, and a solenoid having a projectible plunger, said solenoid being mounted on the lever with the plunger operative against the catch, said brake control having a roller mounted thereon defining a wear resisting abutment for the catch member.

10. In combination, an accelerator control, a brake control, force-applying means for operating the brake control to brake applied position, a manual member for effecting operation of said accelerator control and relieving the brake control of said force applying means, a motor ignition system including an ignition switch, an auxiliar circuit closed by the ignition switch when the latter is in ignition circuit open position, and releasing means for releasing the brake control from the force-applying means electrically connected in said auxiliary circuit, and a dashpot for the said brake control. I

11. In combination, an accelerator control, a brake control, force-applying means for operating the brake control to brake applied position, a manual member for efiecting operation of said accelerator control and relieving the brake control of said force applying means, a motor ignition system including an ignition switch, an auxiliary circuit closed by the ignition switch when the latter is in ignition circuit opening position, and a trip for releasing the brake control from the force-applying means electrically connected in said auxiliary circuit.

12. In a brake mechanism, mechanical forceapplying means for brakes, a control member for releasing the brakes of said force-applying means, auxiliary means for relieving the brakes of said force-applying means in addition to said control means, said auxiliar means consisting of a solenoid and catch means operated by the solenoid.

13. In a brake mechanism, mechanical forceapplying means for brakes, a control member for releasing the brakes of said force-applying means, auxiliary means for relieving the brakes of said force-applying means in addition'to said control -means, said auxiliary means consisting of a solenoid and catch means operated by the solenoid, and a safety switch for deenergizing the solenoid immediately after having been operated to actuate the catch means.

14. In a brake mechanism, in combination with an ignition system including an ignition switch, spring means for holding brakes in applied position, means for releasing the holding means incident to opening of the ignition switch, said lastmentioned means consisting of a circuit in parallel with the ignition system, a solenoid in the parallel circuit and a catch mechanism adapted to be operated by the solenoid when the solenoid and parallel circuit are energized.

, 15. In a brake mechanism, in combination, with an ignition system including an ignition switch, means for holding brakes in applied position, means for releasing the holding means incident to opening of the ignition switch, said last-mentioned means consisting of a circuit in parallel with the ignition system, a solenoid in the parallel circuit and a catch mechanism adapted to be operated by the solenoid when the solenoid and parallel circuit are energized, and a safety switch adapted to be operated by the catch means for opening of the parallel circuit immediately upon a complete operation of the solenoid.

16. In a brake mechanism, in combination, with an ignition system including an ignition switch, spring means for holding brakes in applied position, means for releasing the holding means incident to opening of the ignition switch, said last mentioned means consisting of a circuit in parallel with the ignition system, a solenoid in the parallel circuit and a catch mechanism adapted to be operated by the solenoid when the solenoid and parallel circuit are energized, and a safety switch adapted to be operated by the catch means for opening of the parallel circuit immediately upon a complete operation of the solenoid and a safety switch for opening the ignition circuit when the catch means is disengaged.

WILLIAM J. SMITH. 

